- Microsoft Vista Features I like

Microsoft Vista Features I like

Date Added: June 03, 2008 01:39:56 PM

Author: Rich

Greetings, before starting I have to inform readers that I am not a trained writer. TI have only written a small amount of articles but I am tryiong to learn so your advice would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to send me your feedback on how I can improve upon my writing. With that being said I believe it is safe to start.

Like most people, I did not purchase Vista but was pushed into it. The laptop I wanted had Windows Vista for an operating system so I really had no choice. The version of Vista I have is the Basic Version with Media Center. I have not used any other versions of Vista so I cannot compare but I have used just about every other Operating system and version there is so I will base my comparison on those.

My first impression was that Vista was really not much different than XP. I did notice the changes in the start menu and the desktop settings but the real changes were discovered after I started really using Vista. I really believe that many people complain about Vista because they just have not spent any time learning about the features and functions it has to offer. If you just install the system and start using it, it is going to take some time before you discover how to use the hidden gems it has to offer. By the end of my first week with Vista my initial impression was in the trash and getting buried deeper and deeper as I discovered more and more useful features.

Here is a short list of some Vista features that I really like.

Ready Boost - You can actually use an external drive as a memory cache. I am not exactly sure how this works but I have tested it and it does work when your system is under heavy memory load. I am currently using a 2 gig thumb drive and when ever the drive is free I just keep Ready Boost on. I have found it helpful when using programs such as Macromedia Dreamweaver or Adobe Photoshop.
Windows Sidebar - If you spend the time setting this up you will love it and find it very useful. The selection of sidebar gadgets or what ever you wish to call them keeps growing and growing and believe me, it is very easy to fill up your desktop. I have used the Sidebar to clean up my desktop. I use one gadget that links programs and shortcuts using icons. You choose the icons and programs and colors. I have around 50 various directories and programs listed neatly right on my desktop without a single shortcut messing up my wallpaper! Beautiful! - I also use a module for weather, google calendar, hard drive space and I monitor memory and cpu loads...
Program Menu @ Search - I really like the way the program menu is set up with a search at the bottom that allows you to type the first couple letters of any program to have that program pop right up. Once you get used to this feature it makes going back to an XP machine tough.
Security Center - The newly designed security center is very easy to use and works very well.
Networking - There is a new networking center that makes networking very easy and secure.

Here are some other new features that Microsoft has built into Windows Vista.

User Account Control
Speech Recognition- New and Improved
Sideshow-useful for integrating mobile devices right to your desktop
Ease of Access Center
Narrator
Windows Fip and Flip 3d - Lets you place all of your windows 3 dimensionally - Really Cool!
WIndows Aero - I have used this but I am a performance nut- Looks awesome but is a resource hog- This lets you basically make your windows transparent with various vidual effects. If you use your system for e-mail and Internet browsing this could work for you or if you have resources to spare.
Fast Sleep Mode and Resume - Allows for Very quickly getting in and out of sleep mode

I know there are many more features I am leaving out but the main idea was to share the features I find useful. There are many other aspects of Vista though that I like. For me it performs amazingly well. It manages memory much better and it also has a brand new indexing set up so that searches are very fast.

I just cannot finish this article without mentioning Windows Media Center. When I purchased my last laptop I actually had no intentions at all of using my laptop for media. Before this experience I had watched movies and videos on my pc's but after I got hooked on Media Center everything changed! I use Windows Media Center every single day to record tv and to watch movies, podcasts or what ever! I have my laptop set up now using a 2 monitor set up with my 32 inch television as one monitor and my laptop as the other. This allows me to watch media center on my tv while still being able to work on my laptop. Actually, as I write this article I am watching a prerecorded copy of the x-files... I have also added many features and add-ons to media center that allow you to read pop mail and more right on your tv! In addition, the quality is amazing! Most pc's are viewed much higher resolution than a standard tv...

All in all I have found my version of Microsoft Windows Vista to be the most stable and highest performing Operating system to date. I have found some bugs here and there and I have had some minor problems but in all honesty I believe most of these were caused by me. When ever a computer crashes there is always someone yelling "stupid Computer"! when I bet over 95% of these crashes were caused by software conflicts or just doing something wrong.

To get the most out of VIsta make sure you read everything you can. It is all there at Microsoft. The more you know about Vista, the more useful it becomes and the less problematic. I found features I did not even know existed this way...

I hope someone found this helpful. Please feel free to send me your e-mails offering feedback. I am also available to build, seo and promote your website. Please contact me at TalkandMore.net@gmail.com.

Thanks

Rich Glaser JR
http://www.talkandmore.net

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